Ó Donnabhair

Rev Patrick Woulfe

1923

Ó DONNABHAIR—I—O Downever, O Donowre, O Donnor, Dooner, Dunner, Donor; 'descendant of Donnabhar' (brown-eyebrow); also written Ó Dúnabhra. This surname appears to have originated in Co. Roscommon. The Annals of the Four Masters at the year 1101 record the death of Giolla na Naomh Ó Dúnabhra, chief poet of Connacht. In the year 1297, Marian O Donnabhair was elected Bishop of Elphin, but died on his way to Rome, to uphold the validity of his election, which was contested. The surname had reached Tipperary before the end of the 16th century.

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